Flower holder



R. A. FLOOK FLOWER HOLDER Filed March 14, 1932 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented May 9, 1933 RAYIV'IOND A.

FLOOK, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK A.

MCKEAN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO FLOWER HOLDER Application filed March 14, 1932.

This invention relates to improvements in flower-vases, it more particularly relating to ground or cemetery vases of the type in which an outer casing is permanently installed in the ground and receives an inner flowerholding cup.

Oneof the objects of the invention is the provision of a device of the class described capable of permitting the insertion of an inner cup in the outer casing in either a normal or inverted position, and further providing that the cup may be retained at various heights therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for deterring the theft of the parts, more especially the inner cup; a more specific object in this connection being to employ the means by which the adjustable height of the cup is obtained.

Another and more specific object is a provision of means where in one position of the parts the removal of the inner cup is prohibited.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of the improved flower holder shown inserted in the ground, the section being on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in vertical section on a slightly reduced scale, showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 4 is a slightly enlarged horizontal section on the line 44 of Fig. 3 and is on the same scale as Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 1 with the parts in a difi'erent position.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view with the outer casing in vertical section and the inner member in elevation, showing the inner member in an inverted position, the scale being the same as Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a sheet-metal outer casing having integrally formed out-turned flanges 2 and 3 at the up per and lower ends thereof. The upper end Serial No. 598,728.

of this casing is open while the lower end is partly closed by a narrow strip 5 which is secured in any manner across the faces of the flange 3.

The inner member is a cup 6 preferably watertight at its lower end. This cup is a rolled sheet-metal member having an upwardly dished bottom 7 secured to the out-turned flange 8 of the side wall 9. Across the concave portion of the bottom 7 is secured a narrow strip 10 serving as a handle for the cup. There is also an out-turned flange 11 provided at the upper end of the cup.

In order to provide a deterrent against theft of the parts, or more especially the cup 6, the cup may be removed from the outer casing after it has been inserted therein only in a manner involving a plurality of partial rotations of the cup, the insertion thereof being brought about in the same manner. The theft determent means employs a plurality of inwardly extending pegs fixed in the sides of the outer casing which cooperate with notches in the peripheries of portions of the cup 6.

In the present instance, the pegs, which are in the form of rivets inserted in the walls 4 of the outer casing 1, are in groups of three each and each group is placed at different heights. For example, the pegs of the uppermost group are indicated at 12, 13 and 14 (Figs. 2 and 5) the pegs 13 and 14 being supported in a manner to be explained. The middle group is seen at 15, 16 and 17 (Figs.

2 and 4) and the lowermost group is shown at 18, 19 and 20 (Figs. 2, 3 and 6). The pegs of any group are preferably in the same transverse plane and equi-distantly spaced. Comparing one group to another, however, it will be seen that each group is angularly displaced as shown in Fig. 2, the pegs not being in vertical alignment.

Each flange of the cup 6 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced radially extending open notches such as 21 in the upper flange 11, (Fig. 2) and 22 in the lower flange 8 (Fig. 4) the cup bottom 7 being also notched at its edge. These notches are in alignment with each other and are equal to the number of 1 00 pegs in a group.

It should then be seen that in order to insert either end of the cup 6 into the outer casing 1, it is necessary to cause registration of the notches and pegs, and the cup may be inserted only so far as the next lower group of pegs, since the pegs of this group are displaced and thereby make contact with the solid portions of the flange 8 and bottom 7 (Fig. To insert the cup further it is necessary to rotate the cup until the notches register with these pegs repeating the operation of partially rotating the cup when the cup is in contact with the lowermost group of pegs. On passing the latter pegs further insertion is prevented by contact with the cup with the cross-strip 5 previously mentioned. At this lowermost position the cup may be given a partial rotation, thereby preventing upward movement of the cup.

It should also be clear that to remove the cup the necessary procedure is in reverse order to the method of insertion as just de scribed, the time necessary to accomplish the removal acting as a deterrent to theft.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the cup cannot be elevated from this position since the solid portions of the flange 8 of the cup are in contact with the pegs 18, 19 and 20 and to elevate the cup it is necessary to rotate it slightly until the notches 22 register with the pegs.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the cup is shown resting on the central group of pegs 15, 16 and 17, illustrating one of the'height adjustments for the cup. Referring to Fig. 4 it is seen that a slight partialrotation is again necessary before the cup maybe lowered from this height.

Means are also provided to conceal the theft deterring means in certain positions of the cup. On the outward surface of the cup and near the ends thereof are secured bands 24 and 25 of channel cross sections with the channel portion turned inwardly. These bands are notched as at 26 and 27 in alignment with the notches 21 and 22 in the flanges of the cup 6. The diameter of the bands 24 and 25 is only slightly less than that of the outer casing 1 and as seen in Figs 1 and 7,-effectively conceal the positioning of the pegs and further prevent trash or dirt working its way into the outer casing 1.

I Provision is. also made for locking the cup in the outer casing in the following manner. The pegs "13 and 14 of the uppermost group are secured in the ends of a narrow locking strip 28 bent to conform to the outer cylindrical surface of the casing 1. These pegs pass through short horizontally disposed slots 29 in the wall of the casing 1, as seen in Figs. 5 and 8. A washer 30 is secured to the body portions of each of the pegs 13 and 14 (Fig. 8) to retain the locking strip 28 in comparatively close sliding relation with the casing 1.

With the locking strip 28 in the position as seen in full lines in Fig. 5, the pegs 12, 13

and 14 are equidistant. The cup 6 is shown turned sufficiently to register the notches with the pegs thereby permitting raising or lowering of the cup as desired. By means of the integral tab 31, the locking strip 28 may be shifted to the right (to the broken line position). This shifting of the locking strip 28 places the pegs 13 and 14 in an unequally spaced relation with relation to the peg 12 and thereby provides that the inner cup cannot be removed.

In Fig. 1 the flower holder is seen in position in the ground. The preferable arrangement is to set the outer casing at such depth that the upper end is slightly below the ground surface This provides that with the cup 6 in its lowermost position, the cup will not extend above the ground surface, and yet a sufficient portion of the cup projects above the outer casing to permit of gripping the. cup by the fingers. Since the earth is packed in around the outer surface of the casing 1, it will be seen that it is practically impossible to remove the casing by reason of the out-turned flange 3 thereby providing a further theft deterrent means.

It is further preferable that a small cavity 34 (Figs. 2 and 5) be formed in the surface of the ground adjacent the tab 31 in order to permit shifting of the locking band 28.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a vase of the character described, an outer casing member, an inner cup member, a plurality of series of projections on one 0 said members, the respective series being arranged at different heights, the projections of each series being substantially in the same horizontal plane and arranged in spaced relation with each other, the other member having abutments in different horizontal planes cooperating with said projections to support the cup member at different levels, and also having a plurality of notches associated with each abutment corresponding in number and spacing with such projections.

2. In a vase of the character described, an outer casing member, an inner cup member, a series of projections carried by one of said members, the projections of each series bein in the same horizontal plane and space apart, the projection of one series being in staggered relation with the pro ections of an adjacent series, and a peripheral abutment on the other of said members, said abutment having notches corresponding in number and spacing to said projections.

3. In a vase of the character described, an outer casing member, an inner cup member, a series of projections carried by one of said members, the projections of the series being in the same horizontal plane and spaced apart, a peripheral abutment on the other of said members, said abutment having notches corresponding in number and spacing to sand projections, and means for altering the normal spacing of said projections.

4. In a vase of the character described, an outer casing member, an inner cup member, a plurality of series of inwardly extending proj ections carried by said casing member, a plurality of series of ring-like abutment members on the periphery of said cup member, the projections of each being in substantially the same horizontal plane and in spaced relation and each series of notches being correspondingly spaced.

5. In a vase of the character described, an outer casing member, an inner cup member, a

plurality of series of inwardly extending proj ections carried by said casing member, a plurality of series of ring-like abutment members on the periphery of said cup member, the projections of each series being in substantially the same horizontal plane and in spaced relation and each series of notches being correspondingly spaced, and means for altering the normal spacing of one series of projections.

6. In a vase of the character described, an outer casing member, an inner cup member, a plurality of series of inwardly extending projections carried by said casing member, a plurality of series of ring-like abutment members on the periphery of said cup member, the projections of each series being in substantiall y the same horizontal plane and in spaced relation and each series of notches being correspondingly spaced, one or more of the projections of the upper series being movably mounted whereby the spacing of said projections may be altered.

7. In a vase of the character described, an outer casing member open at its top and bottom, an inner cup member closed at the bottom but open at the top, a lateral flange at the top and bottom of said cup member, a plurality of series of projections projecting inwardly from said casing member, the projections of each series being equally spaced and in the same horizontal plane, a ring-like abutment member adjacent the upper flange on said member, said flanges and abutment member being each provided with a series of notches equal in number and spacing to the projections of a series, each series of projections being in staggered relation with an adjacent series.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of March 1932.

RAYMOND A. F LOOK. 

